Celeb Chef Cookery Theatre
We have famous chefs and bakers from all over the UK
joining us, demonstrating their culinary delights at our Cookery Theatre.
Take a look at our exciting celebrity chefs who will be making star appearances at the festival. This is a stella line up, we are delighted to announce our Saturday guests – Rosemary Shrager, John Whaite, Matt Pritchard and Chris Bavin.
For the show’s second day on Sunday 30th July, we are excited to have Matt Tebbutt, Jean-Christophe Novelli and Masterchef finalist, Pookie, completing the Sunday line-up of celebrity guests for this year’s show. Read more about them below!
Rosemary Shrager
Appearing Saturday 11.30am + 2.30pm
Rosemary Shrager, legendary chef, cookery writer, author and star of The Big Family Cooking Showdown, The Real Marigold Hotel and Ladette to Lady, will take to the stage on Saturday 29th July to share her expertise in classic British cooking. Shrager will take part in a live cookery demonstration, which when combined with her immense broadcast experience and infectious personality, is an event not to be missed.
John Whaite
Appearing Saturday 12.30pm + 3.30pm
Great British Bake Off winner, John Whaite. Since winning the show in 2012, Whaite has been a regular contributor to many UK food magazines and TV shows, as well as appearing weekly on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch. John has authored five cookery books as well as dancing his way to the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. John will be sharing his love of baking and cooking with the festival audience, alongside his passion for using seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients.
Matt Pritchard
Appearing Saturday 10.30am + 1.30pm
Welsh health and fitness fanatic and Dirty Vegan extraordinaire, Matt Pritchard, also joins the festival’s Saturday offering. In recent years, Pritchard has become known for his work as a vegan chef after adapting to a plant-based lifestyle in 2015. Since then he has been amongst the first group to row the 3,200 miles of the Atlantic, from Fuerteventura to Antigua, along with undertaking many long distance and endurance challenges on a sustainable vegan diet. He will share his passion for healthy plant-based eating, combined with his love of street food and fast-food flavours with audiences at the festival.
Chris Bavin
Cookery Theatre Host all weekend
Food expert and television presenter, Chris Bavin, will oversee the weekend’s live demonstrations as he plays host in the festival’s Cookery Theatre. Bavin is best known as the host of UK television series Eat Well For Less? which helps families to save money on their grocery bills while eating healthily. Along with this, he has written several books, and will impart his passion for promoting healthy and sustainable eating, while sharing tips on reducing food waste with audiences at the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival.
Matt Tebbutt
Appearing Sunday 12.30pm + 3.30pm
Announced to be headlining the stage on Sunday 30th July is Matt Tebbutt. Matt is one of the UK’s most popular chefs and is the current host of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, where he has been entertaining audiences since 2017. He regularly contributes to several food publications including Waitrose Weekend, along with authoring several of his own cookbooks. Matt will bring with him his passion for local ingredients and sustainable food practices.
Pookie
Appearing Sunday 10.30am + 1.30pm
Joining Matt is Pookie, a 2022 Masterchef finalist from Solihull, who is known for her vibrant and colourful dishes. Since competing on the show, Pookie has gone on to work with numerous high-profile clients, and has been featured in publications such as Vogue and The Sunday Times. Pookie’s infectious personality has made her a favourite across the UK food festival circuit, and she will showcase her innovative culinary creations in the Cookery Theatre.
Jean-Christophe Novelli
Appearing Sunday 11.30am + 2.30pm
Completing the Sunday line-up is Jean-Christophe Novelli, an acclaimed chef and restauranteur who has worked in some of the world’s top restaurants across his career. Jean-Christophe has been awarded many prestigious accolades for his cookery skills, including an incredible four Michelin stars, and has appeared on various television shows including Hell’s Kitchen, and his own series, Chef Academy. He will be sharing his knowledge of classical French cuisine with audiences at the Three Counties Food and Drink Festival.
